Australian Place Names Changed From German Names
During World War I, many German-sounding place names in Australia were changed because of Anti-German sentiment. The new names were often Anglicized (Peterborough), given Aboriginal names (Kobandilla, Karawirra), names of famous people (Kitchener and Holbrook), or battlefields (Verdun, The Somme). This was done through an Act of Parliament, as well as by petition. The presence of German derived place names was seen as an affront to the war efforts, and to the sensibilities of many in the Australian population at the time.
In South Australia, the Nomenclature Act of 1935 restored the former German names to a number of towns, the names of which had been changed in 1917.
Read more about Australian Place Names Changed From German Names: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia
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